Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO) acquires Blink app and will shut it down

Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) has acquired a mobile messaging app called Blink, which lets users share self-destructing messages just like Snapchat. The app also competes against other self-destructing photo apps like Frankly, Confide, and Wickr. The terms of the deal were undisclosed. All 7 of Blink’s team members will be joining Yahoo! Yahoo! plans to shutdown Blink, which means that this deal was an “acqui-hire.”

Blink spun out of Meh Labs, which is a company founded by former Google executives Kevin Stephens and Michelle Norgan. Meh Labs used to be focused on a location-based service called Kismet, which became popular around SXSW 2012. Kismet did not really gain much traction after that though.

Blink launched slightly over a year ago on iOS and users can send text, photos, videos, voice messages, and other content through the app. The content can be controlled with a timer so users can decide how long they could be read or viewed after tapping. Here is a note that Blink published on its website:

We’re excited to announce that as of May 13, 2014, Blink is joining Yahoo! We built Blink because we believe everyone should be free to show the same honesty and spontaneity in their online conversations as they can in person. We look forward to the possibilities that will come from bringing the Blink vision to Yahoo.

We can’t begin to express how grateful we are for your support throughout this journey. We hope you stick with us through the next chapter.